Chapter Six, Section Two
Foreign Affairs Trouble the Nation (pgs. 190 – 196)
US Response to Events in Europe
· The FR were inspired by the American Revolution – so much so that they wanted their own Revolution – a government based on the will of the people
· The FR & US were allies (Treaty of 1778), so now the US has its 1st foreign policy decision to make: whether we should support the FR Revolution
Reactions to the FR Revolution
· Americans were divided on what to do
· Remember: Jacobins led by Robespierre had launched a Reign of Terror & FR citizens were dying via guillotine at an alarming rate
· Since we were allies, the FR expected US to help
· The two major parties were split
o Democratic-republicans (Jefferson & Madison) felt we should honor the treaty of 1778 & help FR
o Federalists (Hamilton) wanted to back the BR
· GW took the middle road & issued a declaration of neutrality
· Neutrality – statement that the US would support neither side in conflict
· Hamilton & Jefferson actually agreed, and the nation did not get involved
· FR diplomat Edmond Genet had been sent to US to win American support
· But Genet didn’t go through the proper channels, and he tried to recruit Americans against BR
· GW was ticked because he came into the US & thought he could do whatever he wanted
· So because GW was mad and because Genet violated neutrality terms, GW said he had to go back to FR
· Genet couldn’t get back because his FR “bosses” were no longer in power
· So Genet became a US citizen
· Even though Jefferson was not okay with Genet’s faulty actions, he did support FR as stated earlier
· As a result, Jefferson took a lot of heat and was deemed a radical
· Relations weren’t getting better between Hamilton & Jefferson either
· 1793 – Jefferson resigned from Cabinet
Treaty with Spain
· SP still held Florida & Louisiana Territory
· So US needed to make some sort of deal with SP – because we wanted to expand and gain shipping rights
· It got a little complicated because of the FR Revolution & relations between SP, FR, BR, & US were sometimes murky
· October 27, 1795 – Thomas Pinckney (US minister to BR) & SP officials met and agreed on a treaty
· Treaty of San Lorenzo
o SP gave up all land claims east of Mississippi River except for Florida
o Recognized the official boundary between US & Florida
o SP agreed to open Mississippi River to traffic for both SP & US citizens
o Allowed US traders to use the port of New Orleans
Native Americans Resist White Settlers
Northwest Territory – refers to what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, & Wisconsin
· According to 1783 Treaty of Paris – BR had given up its land rights west of the Appalachians (map)
· So US citizens felt they had rights to these lands, but when they got to the lands, the Americans found there were both Native Americans & BR waiting for them.
Fights in the Northwest
· Native Americans didn’t honor the Treaty of Paris because they hadn’t been invited to the negotiations
· BR occupied areas supported Native Americans’ resistance
· It was dangerous for the white settlers to move west because the Native Americans were now waiting to attack them
· Federal government sent Gen. Josiah Harmar & an army to gain control of Ohio
· Harmar’s troops came into conflict with the “Miami Confederacy” led by Little Turtle
· Little Turtle’s tribe defeated both Harmar’s army & another army later in the year
· GW appointed “Mad Anthony” (Gen. Wayne) because he was reckless & courageous
· Little Turtle knew it too, & suggested the tribe try to make peace with the US army (quote on p. 193)
· Little Turtle’s people were angered & replaced him with an inexperienced chief who they could manipulate
· 1794 – Mad Anthony easily defeated the tribe (at Battle of Fallen Timbers), & built an American post shortly after
o Ended Native American resistance in OH
Treaty of Greenville – Miami Confederacy gave up most of the land in OH in exchange for $20,000 worth of goods & annual payments of $10,000
· The Treaty of Greenville is significant because it set a precedent for future deals between the Native Americans & the white settlers
Jay’s Treaty
· Chief Justice of Supreme Court – John Jay
· When Battle of Fallen Timbers was happening, Jay was in London negotiating treaty with BR
o Discussing who would get to control territories west of Appalachian Mts.
· Upon hearing of US’ victory @ Fallen Timbers, a treaty was drawn
o BR agreed to leave all lands in NW Territory
o BR allowed to continue Fur Trade on American side of Canada/US border
o A lot of Americans (esp. western) were ticked at terms of treaty
Adams Provokes Criticism
· GW had done work, but it was a stressful, tiring time in office, so he decided not to run for a 3rd term
o GW advised next leaders to not form any permanent alliances with anyone
o GW then moved back to his home in Mt. Vernon
· Election of 1796 – 1st election between the two political parties
o Federalist candidate: John Adams
o Dem-Republican candidate: Thomas Jefferson
· Adams got 71 electoral votes; Jefferson got 68
· Constitution stated runner up should be VP
· So US now has a Federalist president & a Dem-Republican VP
· Keep in mind there were no political parties when the Constitution was written, so this problem was never thought of
· Election also revealed the issue of sectionalism
· Sectionalism – placing the interests of one region over those of the nation as a whole (North voted for Adams, while South voted for Jefferson)
Adams Tries to Avoid War
· 1st task upon becoming president: the war in FR
· FR was ticked at us because of our treaty with BR (Jay)
o Felt it violated the FR/US alliance
o Result: FR refused to accept the new American ambassador & FR started seizing American ships heading to BR
o Adams sent trio to Paris to try & negotiate with FR
· At the point in FR, the Reign of Terror was over & they had a Legislature & Directory
· Directory had little patience with American needs. They were riding high with their new leader – Napoleon Bonaparte
· Plan was for FR Foreign Minister Talleyrand to meet with US delegates
· Instead, FR sent 3 low level officials (X, Y, Z according to Adams)
· X, Y, & Z told US officials that if they paid $250,000 they could see Talleyrand
o This was vey insulting to us & became known as the XYZ Affair
o Led to major anti-FR feelings throughout the US
· 1798 – Congress created the Navy department & authorized US ships to seize FR ships
o War was never declared, but for next 2 years a naval war between FR & US ensued (pulled GW out of retirement to be in charge)
The Alien & Sedition Acts
· Federalists believed FR agents/spies were throughout the US & planning a coup de’ tat
· As a result, when foreigners arrived they were viewed suspiciously
o Many immigrants were Dem-Republicans
o Many of the most vocal critics of Adams were foreigners
· Congress saw these views as a threat to our government, so the federalists pushed the Alien & Sedition Acts
· Alien & Sedition Acts
o Raised the residence requirement for US citizenship from 5 to 14 years (Alien)
o Allowed the president to deport or jail any “undesirable foreigner” (Alien)
o Set fines and jail terms for anyone trying to hinder the operation of the government or expressing false statements about the government (Sedition)
§ Number of Dem-Republican editors, publishers, & politicians were jailed – 1st Amendment Rights (freedom of speech)
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
· Jefferson & Madison felt this was a serious misuse of power
· They organized opposition to the Acts by appealing to the states (Madison – VA; Jefferson – KY)
· Led to the principle of nullification – states have the right to nullify, or consider void, any act of Congress deemed unconstitutional
o This brings us back to the issue of balance of power between state & federal governments
The Death of Washington
· GW was trying to recruit generals for a possible war in FR when he caught a cold & died in 1799
· Military funeral in Mt. Vernon
· GW’s death led to FR relations improving
o Napoleon ordered 10 days of mourning in FR armies & more good will to come.